East Branch West Nishnabotna River IA 05-NSH-1823

Assessment Comments

Stream use assessment in October 1991 and a biocriteria sampling site in September 1994.

Basis for Assessment

Used a review of the field sheet from the October 1991 DNR stream use assessment approx.  10 miles S of Harlan, and results of the September 1994 DNR biocriteria sampling at the same location, to continue to assess the support of the Class B(LR) aquatic life use as FST due to (1) presence of a relatively diverse fish community for streams of the Loess Hills and Rolling Prairies subecoregion (11 species/4 families in 1991 & 11 species/3 families in 1994), (2) presence of all, or nearly all, of the expected fish taxa for streams in this subecoregion (7 of 7 in 1991 & 6 of 7 in 1994), and relatively good habitat quality in the vicinity of the biological assessments.   Condition of the fish community and aquatic habitat at the site assessed suggests full support of the Class B(LR) uses.   Extensive channelization in other reaches of this stream, however, continue to present a threat to the continued support of these uses.   Excessive levels of sediment in the channel also a concern.